RAFI Micro-finance eyes expansion

By RAFI
June 14, 2012

CEBU CITY  – With the aim to serve and help more women micro-entrepreneurs, the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) Micro-finance is set to establish more branches in the provinces of Leyte and Bohol, and Cebu City.

During the June 9 episode of “Pagtuki”, the official radio program of RAFI, Noneto Gonzales, area manager of Micro-finance Leyte, said that there are plans of putting up additional branches in Central and Eastern Visayas, especially in rural areas.

A branch in Jagna will soon open in June for Bohol clients. More branches in the northern part of Leyte will also be set up.

According to Richard Candelada, branch manager of Ormoc City, Leyte, there are currently around 800 active members in Ormoc and more than 1,600 members in the entire Leyte.

RAFI Micro-finance already has branches in Ormoc, Sogod, Baybay, Maasin, Albuera, Bato, Merida, Kanangga in Leyte and in the municipalities of Ubay, Tubigon, Talibon, and Dawis in Bohol.

RAFI Micro-finance is a program under the Micro-finance & Entrepreneurship focus areas, which believes that a better life begins with a stable and rewarding livelihood.

RAFI Micro-finance also trains their members in saving for their future.

“In RAFI Micro-finance, we discipline our clients to have savings. Membership process is also very easy. Giving of loan is individual. We don’t have collaterals and character is one of our bases. We also accept big amount of loans,” Gonzales said.

Clients are also given health insurance upon membership. They can benefit from this for hospitalization purposes.

"RAFI Micro-finance program continues and never stops thinking of ways to enhance the business skills of its clients, such as giving them free trainings,” Candelada said.

Ma. Luisa Olita, Ormoc Client Advisory Board (CAB) president, shared the big changes in her life when she joined the program, saying, “As a member of five years, I was able to build my own house, expand my sari-sari store, buy things for our house and two motorcycles. I also learned to have discipline in handling money, such as being thrifty.”

RAFI Micro-finance Leyte will have a general assembly on June 16 at the Visayas State University (VSU), Baybay, Leyte. Members from Bato, Baybay, and Ormoc are expected to participate in the activity.  There will be a medical mission, which includes free general consultation and pap smear.  PILMICO will also conduct a seminar on hog-raising.

“Pagtuki” is aired over DYLA every Saturday at 10 a.m.-11 a.m. The program tackles timely and relevant issues affecting the Cebuano community.